Just north of Berkeley and El Cerrito along the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, Richmond boasts miles of coastal shoreline with parks, fishing piers, beaches, biking and jogging trails. More affordable housing makes Richmond attractive for young families, with its BART and Amtrak stations and easy commutes to San Francisco and other East and North Bay cities. Point Richmond offers a quaint hillside village ambience; the former Richmond Shipyards have been transformed starting in the late 1980’s into a multi-unit residential area, Marina Bay. Country Club Vista is a development that surrounds the Richmond Country Club to the north and south, which includes ranch homes with cul-de-sacs and small yards. Other neighborhoods include Richmond Annex, Richmond North, Richmond East and Richmond View.

Richmond’s history as a bustling World War II era shipyard between 1941 and 1945 is documented in an outdoor park along the water, the Rosie the Riveter World War II National Historical Park. The Hilltop Mall offers varied shopping options. The city also hosts the largest leash-free dog park in the United States, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline. Other landmarks include the East Brother Light Station on East Brother Island, which hosts an exclusive bed and breakfast and is accessible only by private boat. Richmond also has a tiny airfield between Breuner Marsh and Point Pinole in the Parchester Village Neighborhood. Several regional parks are linked by the San Francisco Bay Trail.